PSA: For When You're Sick

Even with the best of efforts, there is a high chance that I will get sick. Sickness can hit me from nowhere, a big wallop that lands me in bed, snot running out of my sinuses. You're welcome for that image.

Content Restful Times

I'm really down with this "hygge" idea. 

If you haven't heard this Danish word, get yourself acquainted. My Danish colleague pronounced it for me ("hooghe") and its so adorable when she says it. It's sentiment of surrounding oneself with warmth, coziness and the good things in life is something we should all take part in.

Year of Decluttering: In Review and Final Numbers

I missed my third quarter decluttering review. By the time I realized this, I had mostly given up on controlling the makeup situation. But a nice reminder from the women's shelter that I donate to gave me energy to do a final push to get good unused and almost new items to ladies in need.

Happy Holidays

Hey Dude,

Another year is coming to an end and during this festive season, I'd like to wish you and your loved ones the warmest of well wishes and seasonal greetings. May your next year be met with success, a positive spirit and personal growth! 

Merry Christmas and happy holidays!

Jenn

PS. ABZ will be starting up again in the new year.

Unflattering Office Lighting

Now that its winter time, I apply my makeup in the dark. Well...that's an exaggeration, but my 7am bedroom might as well be a cave. 

In the Moment #35: The Yoga Expo

I went to the Vancouver Yoga Expo and it really was awesome (to be honest, it was better than I expected. Maybe you're like me and you think there's something a little weird about "yoga people". I've sat in classes where yoga instructors told me that the moon goddess was particularly powerful this month and to be careful, and I've been told to focus on my inner light and connection with the Earth. All this makes me feel like Yoga can be a bit woo-woo but the physical practice is still something I'm curious to learn more about.

Life Lately: Small Break

Hey dude,

So I find myself in the position where I have no backup articles to post and I haven't taken pictures in a while. Instead of forcing a robotic entry, ABZ is going to take a long needed break from its usual schedule of M,W,S.

For transparency, I'm not entirely sure when we'll be back up and running. I'm focusing on a few things aside from beauty right now. But the blog won't be too away for too long since there are some items I am excited to share. Look for new posts in, oh let's say...three weeks (but that's not a guarantee).

Anyways, until then!
Jenn

Happenings at the Aritiza Warehouse Sale

  

The annual Aritiza warehouse sale, a special event that most Vancouverite women and their mothers will flock to each fall. Prices under 50% call out and lure shoppers through the doors. The aisles and aisles of disorganized clothing keep girls trapped until they surface again 5 hours later, parched, hungry, and poorer. Remember to tell your family where you went because while you thought you'd just "take a look", you were never more wrong.

Life Lately: Random Thoughts and a Few Shout Outs

One click and the hope of a productive day decays as my brain glazes over from rabbit hole after rabbit hole of internet searches. An idea grow vines in my head, until I can satisfy myself that I have read everything I can about it. These are the completely random ideas that have been bursting through the fog of my day-to-day.

Question: Do you use the same amount of conditioner as shampoo?

A bottle of conditioner and a bottle of shampoo tend to be around the same volume. They also tend to be about the same price. But I never, never use them at the same rate! Does anyone?

Life Lately: Class Pass Discoveries and the Blog

These last months, I've been focusing on developing my fitness.

I've been using ClassPass to try new exercise activities and to get some routine back into my exercise schedule. I was doing Kayla Itsine's BBG but wanted something lengthier, more intense and more social. ClassPass has been a good way to bridge the gap from here until the new Equinox opens in Vancouver. I AM SO PUMPED for its opening and have already signed up for membership. Bring on the battle ropes and crazy running classes.

Pinterest Graveyard

I've realized that my Pinterest boards are where inspiration goes to die. All the excitement of pinning and saving, and all the best intentions of one day trying out that look, are instantly forgotten. Pin once and suddenly the total number of could-have-been FOTDs increases by 1.

Make Up Mules

In anticipation of going to Taiwan in May and meeting Daphne for the first time, I offered to be her "makeup mule" in case she was missing western brands. I'll leave her to showcase a few of the Sephora items she will opportunely procure via my trans-pacific voyage.

There have been so many times where I've selfishly utilized a friend's travel plans for my own procurement pleasure. Any mention of a someone heading to Asia is usually met with a sweetly, but hastily, requested list of items to bring back. I am not preferential towards just the Asian continent, go anywhere, and I will find something that you will need to bring back for me. Here are just a few items that my friends have lovingly drug makeup-muled back for me.

That Party in My Heart

I'm so cool, I wait until the end of the year to listen to all the cool music. As I sat on my couch last night perusing list after list of top 10, 20, 50 albums, songs, new releases of 2015, I laugh at myself for how 'with it' I am. 

PSA: Ornamental Beauty

Have you considered the perfect combination of foliage confectionary that would say, "YES this tree is SO ME!?" 

PSA: The First Make Up Thing I've Been Excited About in a While

#sneakypeek #peanutbutterandjelly @ultabeauty #spring #toofaced #yum #HurryBeforeTheyMakeMeTakeThisDown

A photo posted by Jerrod Blandino (@jerrodblandino) on Oct 28, 2015 at 2:10pm PDT

SAY WHAT?!

Have I told you that I literally eat peanut butter (all natural with no added sugar pls) right out of the jar and in frequent quantities? I'm trying to tell myself it's not a problem but the pounds around my waist suggest differently.

Make up gods...make this palette worth it...make each shadow pigmented and buttery. Please and thank you.

The Big Purge

Coming back home was a forced opportunity to go through all the belongings in my 28 years of living and to start giving most away. After reading that Magic Tidying Up book, I put some of the principles into action with my clothes, books, personal memorabilia and finally makeup. 

Update

Hey dude,

Just another quick update. I've run out of pre-schedule posts and am still without a blog functional computer so ABZ is going on a brief break until a) my new computer is delivered, b) I finish purging and going through all my accumulated belongs from 27 years of life and c) I finally have furniture at David's to put my belongings into. At some point I also intend to start finding employment because 'funemployment' is only fun as long as you don't start down the existential road of  'What Am I Doing with My Life?!" :)

Enjoy your August! I hope to get ABZ up at running again within a few weeks.

Jenn

Laughing with the Universe

Hey Dude,

Just a quick note that blogging activities have been at a standstill lately. In one of those 'laugh with the universe' moments, my Mac Air decided to stop working and the replacement of the logic board is going to cost me $$$. This has been wonderfully timed alongside all the other expenses I've been incurring this month due to the move and my zealous attempts to do all the things in Toronto while I can.

Suffice it to say, I won't be spending much time catching up on my Bloglovin' roll but have some posts pre-scheduled and will be answering my emails/responding to comments. Things will hopefully get back up and running at full speed by mid-Aug but I'm contemplating taking the later half of August off.

Either way, hang in there while I try to dig some change out of my couch to pay for the repairs.

Jenn

Life Lately: On Minimalism, Military Ducks and the Necessity of Chairs

You may already know this, I feel like I've been saying this repeatedly, but I'm permanently moving from Toronto to Vancouver at the end of July. The moving process is in its advanced stages and what once started out as the above living situation has since moved onto the below (I also just sold my coffee table a few minutes ago). With still weeks to go (at the time of writing) before my one way flight to Vancouver on the 29th, each new piece of furniture sold has been an amusing shuffle in living comfort and an experimentation on new boundaries of minimalism.